Annual Grant Cycles
For over 60 years, The Edward E. Ford Foundation has made grants to independent schools throughout the United States. Over 900 different schools have received over 2,100 different grants from the Foundation totaling well over $125,000,000.
The Foundation has long encouraged, and now requires, matching funds to be raised as a part of its application process so as to leverage even greater philanthropic support for independent schools. These matching grants now exceed an additional $115,000,000 in total support generated for NAIS schools.
We schedule three grant-making cycles annually (what the Foundation calls Agendas) in June and November, and one March/April "Flexible Agenda" for Special Grants. The June Agenda is when the Advisory Board considers Traditional Grant proposals. Schools that meet the eligibility criteria may pursue a grant for any purpose that the school head believes will assist and support the school in its work. The November Agenda is when the Board considers Educational Leadership Grant proposals which involve a smaller number of applicants for larger dollar amounts.
June Agenda — Traditional Grant
These grants are made in response to requests that can range from $25,000 to $100,000 and that must be matched by additional funds raised by the school at least 1:1.
Schools seeking placement on a Traditional Grant Agenda should be prepared to specify the anticipated dollar value of their proposal when they request placement. This can be months in advance of the date the final version of the proposal will be due, depending on the length of the queue.
Traditional Grants are awarded based on the quality of the proposal and other considerations in terms of the school's operation, but it does not identify certain areas of independent school work as favored. That is, you can seek guidance as to what sort of proposals have been funded in the past but schools should identify their own greatest institutional need that they think the Foundation can help address.
→ Read more about the application process, for Schools.
→ Read more about the application process, for Associations.
November Agenda — Educational Leadership Grant
These grants are made in response to requests of up to $250,000, matched at least 1:1.
Starting in 2008, the Foundation dedicated one of its three annual grant-making cycles to the Educational Leadership Grant program— larger grants to fewer schools— that was initially by invitation only. Beginning with the 2018 agenda, the Foundation allowed schools to pursue placement on an Educational Leadership Grant Agenda without first being invited to do so. The Foundation Board wants these Educational Leadership Grants to be generative.
We seek proposals that:
promise a significant impact on the practice and thinking in the independent school community throughout the country
are innovative and replicable
have a “ripple” effect where the benefits of the successful pursuit of an idea will not be limited to a single school
encourage bold, new ideas that address challenges faced by independent schools
represent original thinking and can conceivably catalyze change
inspire creative problem-solving and incubate novel approaches
Educational Leadership Grants are awarded based on the quality of the proposal and other considerations in terms of the school's operation, but it does not favor certain areas of independent school work. You can seek guidance as to what sort of proposals have been funded in the past but schools should identify their own greatest institutional need that they think the Foundation can help address.
Open Agendas
“Agenda” is the term we use for our three annual grant cycles.
November 2022 Agenda
Educational Leadership Grant
Preliminary Proposal: May 1, 2022
Final Proposal: October 1, 2022
June 2023 Agenda
Traditional Grant
Proposal Due: April 1, 2023
Closed Agendas
These agendas are full and we are no long accepting placement requests.
June 2022 Agenda
Traditional Grant
Proposal Due: April 1, 2022
November 2021 Agenda
Educational Leadership Grant
Preliminary Proposal: May 1, 2021
Final Proposal: October 1, 2021